Rethinking the Future Starts Underground

We imagine the future as powerful algorithms. But maybe looking somewhere far more unexpected is the key: the quiet, invisible networks of fungi that have mastered survival through cooperation.

The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about the future is most likely artificial intelligence or any kind of technological breakthrough. But these associations aren’t too far away from our present – maybe we are already closer to future solutions than we think. Dirk Brockmann of Dresden Technical University suggests a solution to how society could deal with growing global challenges. The physicist moved on to explore the field of Biology and found his fascination within a complex system: mushrooms. “Just like mushrooms, everything can be a kind of ecosystem”, he says during his presentation at the “Next Frontiers” conference. This conference gives experts of every field, authors and illustrators a stage to present controversial and future-oriented thoughts and possible solutions. As a complexity researcher Brockmann believes that a society could learn from how ecosystems evolve – or how a fungus survives, even though it’s not an actual living thing. He describes nature as a model for resilience in an increasingly complex world.

Climate change, pandemics, political polarization and disinformation on social media – according to Brockmann, many of today’s crises are deeply interconnected. They evolve within global networks of mobility, communication, and human interaction. Traditional ways of thinking often struggle to explain these systems because they focus too heavily on single causes rather than relationships between different elements. “For innovation to happen, different types have to collaborate”, argues Brockmann – just like fungi. Unlike companies, they don’t have a CEO, yet they are capable of adapting to changing environments, forming cooperative relationships, and sustaining entire ecosystems.

Brockmann describes fungi as “masters of biochemistry” that constantly explore their surroundings and build connections with other organisms. One example illustrates how cooperation drives innovation in nature: Around 600 million years ago, plants were only able to move from water onto land because they formed partnerships with fungi. Even today, most land plants remain connected to fungal networks. Rather than competing constantly, these organisms survive through exchange and mutual support.

Dirk Brockmann argues that this principle can also be applied to human systems. Modern societies often prioritize efficiency above everything else. Companies reduce redundancies, institutions become more specialized, and systems are optimized for maximum performance. While this may work in stable times, highly optimized systems can become fragile when unexpected crises occur – as the Covid pandemic demonstrated in 2020.

Brockmann uses the example of global industries struggling to adapt quickly to changing markets and disruptions because they were built primarily for efficiency, not flexibility. Nature works differently. Biological systems often include redundancy and diversity. Multiple organisms can take over similar functions if one part of the system fails. Although this may appear inefficient at first glance, it increases resilience in the long term. Brockmann suggests that human organizations, cities, and even political systems could adopt similar principles in the future.

From bacteria living inside humans to symbiotic partnerships between plants and fungi, nature repeatedly shows that collaboration can create entirely new possibilities. This perspective may feel unusual or even uncomfortable in a society shaped by performance pressure, constant optimization, and individual achievement. Yet Brockmann believes that more cooperation and diversity could help societies become more adaptable and sustainable in the face of uncertainty.

Of course, forming networks and cooperating can be risky, Brockmann notes. Social media, for example, can strengthen both supportive communities and destructive dynamics at the same time. So, the challenge is not simply to create more connections, but to build healthier and more resilient ones. Maybe not every meaningful contribution needs to be visible. Fungi work underground, unseen, and Brockmann sees an analog in social systems that quietly support entire ecosystems.

To build the foundation for more resilient modern societies and systems, we could try to “think more like a fungus”: moving away from a one-sided focus on efficiency and individual performance and towards curiosity, diversity, adaptability, and mutual support.